Kean University has entered into a partnership with Braven, a national nonprofit organization focused on equipping students with the skills and support necessary for career readiness. Starting in Fall 2026, Kean students will be able to participate in Braven’s Career Accelerator, a three-credit course that emphasizes practical career preparation, mentorship, and professional development.
The program will initially target sophomores and juniors enrolled in Kean’s College of Business and Public Management as well as those pursuing bachelor’s degrees in liberal arts. There are plans to expand the offering campuswide, with an aim to serve up to 1,000 students each year by 2028.
“We are building a university where opportunity is within every student’s reach,” said Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. “Our partnership with Braven will help ensure that we are empowering our students to step into the workforce ready to lead, innovate and thrive.”
Braven’s Career Accelerator begins with an undergraduate course that combines weekly online modules delivered through Braven’s platform and practical application in small-group Learning Labs. Each lab consists of five to ten peers led by a trained volunteer professional known as a Leadership Coach. During the course, students—referred to as fellows—work on assignments aimed at developing six core career competencies: career navigation, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, organization, and leadership.
Upon finishing the course, participants join a network of more than 14,000 Braven alumni nationwide. They continue their development through post-course opportunities including access to mentorship programs, career coaching services, professional communities, internship placements, job listings tailored for graduates, and events designed for networking and skill-building.
“Partnering with Braven will expand the support we provide our students as they prepare for life after graduation,” said Katherine Gallagher, senior vice president for student success at Kean. “This program advances social mobility by giving students, especially those who are the first in their families to attend college, access to mentors, networks and real-world career tools that open doors to meaningful opportunities.”
Braven reports positive outcomes both nationally and within New Jersey. Within six months of graduation in 2024, 61% of Braven graduates had secured full-time jobs aligned with their degrees or had enrolled in graduate school—a rate 18 percentage points higher than national averages among their peers. The organization also cites a 92% on-time graduation rate among its fellows compared to approximately 70% among college students nationwide. Additionally, 70% of Braven college graduates have completed at least one internship during their studies versus 48% of all college graduates.
“This expansion to Kean in Fall 2026 is a major step forward for Braven’s work in New Jersey,” said Samantha Crockett, Executive Director of Braven New Jersey. “In collaboration with Kean’s Career Services team, we are building on the success we have seen at other institutions and expanding access to real-world career preparation for more students across the state. Together, we are strengthening New Jersey’s workforce and helping more students graduate ready to lead.”
“Braven’s mission has always been to ensure that promising college students, no matter where they start, have a real path to economic mobility. Expanding to Kean University represents the next chapter in that mission,” said Aimée Eubanks Davis, Founder and CEO of Braven. “As our second partner in New Jersey and part of a growing national network, Kean is helping us prove what’s possible when higher education and workforce preparation go hand in hand.”
